GB2224152A - Display case - Google Patents

Abstract

A display case for a timetable, poster or other sheet material which has a front housing (2) including a window (7) which fits over a back panel (1) enclosing the sheet material. The front housing (2) has a rear wall portion (8) at one end to fit over and retain the back panel (1), and a hinged flap (6) at the other end which can be locked onto the back panel (1). When the flap (6) is unlocked, the front housing (2) can slide with respect to the back panel (1) to disengage the rear wall part (8) and can then pivot away from the back panel (1) to provide access to the sheet material. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPLAY CASE The present invention relates to a display case for displaying timetables, posters and other sheet material containing information and/or advertising matter.

An object of the present invention is to provide a display case for sheet material which is more resistant to vandalising than hitherto known display cases of this type.

The invention consists in a display case for a timetable, poster or other sheet material, comprising a back panel, a front housing of generally complementary shape to the back panel and slidably and pivotally connected to the back panel, said front housing including an open back via which the back panel is nested within the front housing, a front window through which sheet material disposed between the front housing and back panel may be viewed, a rear wall part engageable over the back panel to retain the latter nested within the front housing, and a hinged locking part which, in a closed position, is actuated to lock the back panel and the front housing in nested relation and, upon release, is movable to an open position which enables relative sliding movement of the housing and back panel to disengage the rear wall part of the housing from the back panel and permit the front housing to be hinged away from the back panel.

When the front housing is hinged away from the back panel, sheet material can be placed in the front housing, over the window, or can be removed or replaced, whereafter the front housing can be re-engaged with the back panel to retain the sheet material on display between the front housing and back panel. This is achieved by hinging the front housing towards the back panel, sliding the housing and panel relatively to one another so as to re-engage the rear wall part of the housing over the back panel and returning the hinged locking part of the front housing to its closed and locked position.

The window of the front housing may be glazed with a sheet of toughened or unbreakable transparent material, such as, polycarbonate sheet.

In a preferred embodiment, the back panel and front housing are of elongated shape in front elevation, for example, of rectangular shape. The opposite side walls of the front housing are slidably and pivotally connected to juxtaposed side walls of the back panel so that the front housing is longitudinally slidable relative to the back panel and can be hinged towards and away from the front of the back panel. The rear wall part of the front housing for engaging behind the back panel is disposed at or adjacent one end of the housing and the hinged locking part is disposed at its opposite end.

The hinged locking part of the front housing may simply comprise a hinged flap forming an end wall of the housing and including a key-operated locking device which can be engaged with a detent on the adjacent end of the back panel.

The back panel may be provided with means for securing the display case to a required support, for example, a bus stop standard or wall.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a bus timetable display case embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the display case showning the front housing in its open position, and Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective taken from the rear and underneath of the display case and illustrating the locking device for the hinged locking flap of the display case.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the display case comprises a hollow back panel 1 of rectangular shape in elevation and which is a box-like structure conveniently formed from sheet metal.

Mounted on the back panel is a front housing 2.of complementary rectangular shape to the back panel and comprising front and side walls 3,4 and top and bottom walls 5,6. This front housing may also be formed from sheet metal. The front wall 3 of the housing 2 includes a substantially full length and full width window 7 which is glazed with a sheet of toughened or unbreakable transparent material, such as, polycarbonate sheet. Except for a short rear wall part 8 contiguous with the top end wall 5 of the front housing, the back 9 of the housing is open to permit the back panel 1 to fit or nest within the housing.

When the back panel is so nested, the rear wall part 8 engages over the upper end of the back panel.

The front housing 2 is pivotally and slideable mounted on the back panel 1 by means of trunnions 10 projecting inwardly from the side walls 4 adjacent the lower end of the housing and engaging in slots 11 formed in the juxtaposed side walls of the back panel adjacent the lower end of the latter. The slots 11 extend longitudinally of the side walls of the back panel and are rounded at their bottom ends to provide journals for the trunnions 10.

The bottom end wall 6 of the front housing 2 is in the form of a flap which is hinged along its front edge to the front wall 3 of the housing and is movable from the open position illustrated in the drawings to a closed position in which it forms the end wall of the housing and is disposed between the side walls 4 flush with the adjacent ends thereof. The flap 6 has a key-operated locking device 12, for example, a barrel lock, which on the inside of the flap includes a latch member 13 (Figure 3)for engaging with a detent 14 formed in the bottom end wall of the back panel 1, whereby the flap can be locked in its closed position.

Along its rear edge, the flap has a fiange 15 which, in the closed position of the flap overlaps the rear of the back panel and conceals the latch and detent.

On its rear wall, the back panel 1 is provided with fittings 16, such as clamping straps or clips, for fastening the display case to a lamp post or bus stop standard 17.

A timetable or other sheet material to be displayed is disposed in the display case when the front housing 2 is hinged away from the back panel 1, as illustrated in Figure 2. It is laid in the open front housing over the transparent window 7 so that information and/or advertising material can be viewed through the window. The front housing is then hinged towards the back panel and lifted so that the rear wall part 8 of the housing can clear the top of the back panel 1 preparatory to engaging behind the latter. The slots 11 are of sufficient length to permit this operation.Thereafter, when the front housing is lowered, the top end of the back panel engages in the pocket defined by the rear wall part 8, the top end wall 5 and the adjacent parts of the front and side walls 3,4 of the housing so that the back panel is nested within the housing and retained in this position by the rear wall part 8 engaging behind the back panel. In this nested position, the space between the front of the back panel and the window 7 of the front housing is such as to permit the sheet material to be held in position. Having engaged the front housing with the back panel, it is locked in this position by hinging the bottom end flap 6 of the front housing upwardly and turning the key 16 to engage the latch member 13 with the detent 14 at the bottom of the back panel, whereupon, the key is removed. Hence, the front housing is locked to the back panel in such a manner as to provide a display case which resists vandalisation and tampering with the sheet material displayed in the case.

When the sheet material is to be removed or replaced, the bottom end flap 6 of the front housing 2 is unlocked with the key and allowed to drop into its open position, whereupon the front housing may be lifted to disengage the rear wall part 8 from the upper end of the back panel and allow the front housing to hinge downwards to permit access to the sheet material space.

Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understood that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the back panel and front housing of the casing may alternatively be made from plastics or wood. The casing may be square in elevation rather than of elongated rectangular shape.

Claims (9)

1. A display case for a timetable, poster or other sheet material comprising a back panel and a front housing of generally complimentary shape to the back panel and slidably and pivotally connected to the back panel, said front housing including an open back via which the back panel is nested within the front housing; a front window through which sheet material disposed between the front housing and the back panel may be viewed; a rear wall part engageable over the back panel to retain the back panel nested within the front housing; and a hinged locking part which, in a closed position, is adapted to be actuated to lock the back panel and the front housing in nested relation and, upon release, is movable to an open position which enables relative sliding movement of the front housing and the back panel to disengage the rear wall part and permit relative pivotal movement of the front housing and the back panel.

2. A display case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front window is glazed with a sheet of polycarbonate or other toughened or unbreakable material.

3. A display case as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the back panel and the front housing are of a rectangular or other elongated shape in front elevation.

4. A display case as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the opposite side walls of the front housing are slidably and pivotally connected to juxtaposed side walls of the back panel.

5. A display case as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the rear wall part is disposed at or adjacent one end of the housing and the hinged locking part is disposed at its opposite end.

6. A display case as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the hinged locking part includes a hinged flap forming an end wall of the housing.

7. A display case as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the hinged locking part includes a key-operated locking device which is engageable with a detent on the adjacent end of the back panel.

8. A display case as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the back panel is provided with means for securing the display case to a support.

9. A display case substantially as described herein, with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.